What is the Involvement Human Library?
- Every staff member, service user and carer who is involved in an Involvement project has a unique story to tell.
- The Involvement Human Library creates a welcoming environment to maximise the voice, experiences and contributions of everyone involved.
- It provides a supportive space for reflection and tells us about the positive impacts and contributions your Involvement project has made.
- We want service users, carers and HSC staff to lend us their Involvement story so we can share, recognise and improve how we engage and work in partnership with our service users and carers.
How does the Involvement Human Library work?
- Involvement projects come along on a specific day and time to share their Involvement experience in an open and relaxed environment.
- It will utilise a hybrid approach of in-person, written submissions or online options to help enable a wide and inclusive process,
- It uses the following themes throughout the open discussion
- Transparency
- Respect & Inclusion
- Impact
- It will take place annually and this year it is taking place in May 2025 & June 2025.
Who is involved in the Involvement Human Library Process?
- Your HSC Trust PPI Team and the PHA PPI team will be available to support and facilitate this process alongside you.
- Each session will take approximately 40 – 50 minutes,
- There will be a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 service users, carers and the HSC staff member who lead on the Involvement project who will participate in each session.
- We do not pass judgement, investigate or criticise any aspect of your Involvement project. The ethos of this process is based on learning, replicating and up-scaling.
Testimonials
“For me getting the opportunity to be a panel member on the Human Library was a very humbling experience and one that filled me with optimism and hope going forward with the Involvement work I do. Getting the chance to hear the stories from other service users and carers on their Involvement in some programs was a privilege and an experience that I learnt a lot from. Sharing the good practice, highlighting what went well and also hearing from staff has got me excited that Involvement and Co-Production is a movement now that is being recognized as so valuable. Let’s make the Involvement Human Libraries 2025, better and bigger and I am looking forward to hearing more amazing stories”.
WHSCT – Service user panel member
“I found it all extremely interesting and very worthwhile. It was fascinating to hear about all the projects, and the work involved…something that was interesting and useful for the future and needed much more publicity than they got. It gave a marker on how to go forward in the future”
WHSCT – Service user panel member
“My experience of being a service user and carer on the 2024 Involvement Human Library, was really informative, as learning of projects and meeting/ interacting with project staff and service users and carers, was an inspiring experience to hear what a difference the Involvement projects had made to those involved. I felt valued and respected by the PHA staff, being part of Involvement Human Library was encouraging as I grew in self confidence and self-esteem.”
SEHSCT – Service user panel member
“It was an amazing experience to be part of. I got to meet service users, carers and staff members working together on Involvement projects, bringing together lived experience and knowledge”
SHSCT – Service user panel member
“Well organised, the session was on time, great to get a sandwich as I was on work lunchtime break, I felt everyone had equal say and no one person took over and the 3 simple questions really helped us tell our Involvement story, I really enjoyed it”.
SHSCT – Staff member
“Each person introduced themselves initially at the start of our session. The service users and carers were given the opportunity to discuss their Involvement and then the staff were invited to share their experience of leading the project. The whole experience was very relaxed and not too formal, although it was structured I felt comfortable”.
NHSCT – Staff member
“The Involvement Human Library was just so encouraging and lovely…. I am really glad I did it”.
BHSCT – Service user and carer
“It was a great opportunity to share our Involvement learning and experiences with others”
NIAS – Service user and carer
To find out more about the process, or to speak to a member of the PHA Involvement team email : ppi.secretary@hscni.net
